Journal-box-cover fastener.



B. S. LAWSON.

JOURNAL BOX oovm PASTENER.

APPLICATION FILED IBBJE, 1911. 1,048,323.

Patented Dec. 24, 1912.

[N VE g T 0R A llama/N.

TinTTnn STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

BENJAMIN S. LAWSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIG-NOR T0 ASA L. MERRICK, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK.

JOURNAII'BOX-COVEB FASTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 24, 19112.

Application filed February 15, 1911. Serial No. 608,784.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Buxuxniix '8. LawsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Journal-Box-Cover Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention pertains to an improved journal-box cover, and has to deal more particularly with the means employed for locking the same in place.

The invention is illustrated in the annexed drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is an end or front elevation of a box with my invention applied thereto; Fig. 2 a vertical sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 a perspective view of the cover or lid; and Fig. 1 a similar view of the latch employed to hold the lid in its closed position.

The main object of the present invention is to produce a simple and efficient lock for the lid, which look by reason of its construc tion will be easily manipulated and yet secure against accidental displacement.

In the drawings, 1 denotes the journalbox, the outer end of which is faced off and formed with an upstanding lug Q at its upper side, while at the lower portion there is provided a socket or recess 3.

The cover'as a whole is designated by 4 and a bolt-hole 5 is formed in the upper end thereof, through which and a hole formed in the lug 2 a bolt 6 is passed. The cover is likewise provided with a pair of ears or lugs 7 in which is mounted a pin 8, which in turn forms the pivotal support for a latch bar or arm 9. A nose or projection 10 extends inwardly from the under face of the latch bar and passes through an opening ll formed in the cover and into the socket 3 when the cover is brought to its closed position. The lower end of the latch bar projects somewhat below the lower end or edge of the cover and is fashioned into two oppositely-extending fingers 12 and 13 producing a handle by which the latch bar may be readily manipulated.

To hold the latch in place a spring 14 is employed, the spring being of the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the upper end there of being relatively broad and being held in place upon the bolt 6 by the locked nut 15.

The spring, as will be noted is of bow form and the lower free end thereof is somewhat narrow and bears against the front recessed face of the latch bar. As will be appreciated, the spring serves to force the latch into locking engagement with the socket 3 and consequently prevents the lid or cover 4. from swinging or shifting laterally on the pivot bolt 6. By tapering the nose 10 the spring constantly urges the same into close contact with the walls of the socket 3 and onsequently chattering of the parts is prevented to a greater or less extent.

WVhen it is desired to open the box it is only necessary to draw the lower end of the latch bar outwardly to such an extent as to free the nose 10 from the socket when, through the agency of the bar as a handle the lid or cover may be swung laterally in either direction. When swung. clear of the side of the box the latch bar may be released, thereby permitting the nose 10 to engage the x side and temporarily hold the box lid open or partially so.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is 1. In combination with a journal-box, a lid or cover pivoted at its upper end to the box to swing laterally; a latch bar pivoted to the cover, said bar being provided with a nose adapted to pass through an opening in the cover and into a socket formed in the box; and a spring serving to force the bar inwardly.

2. In combination with a journal box; a lid or cover; a bolt passing through said cover and box at their upper ends and forming a pivotal support for the cover, said cover being formed with an opening adjacent to its lower end in alinement with a socket formed in the face of the box; a latch bar pivotally secured at its upper end to the lid, said bar being provided with a nose or lug adapted to pass through the opening in the cover and into the socket in the box when the cover or lid is brought to its closed position; and a spring serving to force the latch bar into locking position.

8. In combination with a journal-box; a lid or cover; a bolt passing through said lid at its upper end and also through a projection formed on the box; a bow spring having one end secured to the bolt; and a latch bar pivoted to the outer face of the lid, the free end of the spring bearing on the bar below In testimony whereof I have signed my its pivot, said bar being formed with a lockname to this specification in the presence of ing lug adapted to pass through an opening two subscribing witnesses.

in the cover and into a socket formed in the BENJAMIN S. LAWVSON. box, the lower end of the bar projecting to a Witnesses:

point below the lower end of the lid and be- DAVID ENGEL,

ing fashioned into a handle. NELSON FRYE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, I). C. 

